2:03 p.m.: Hintz is out for Game 3, the Stars’ Bruce LeVine relays. Back will re-enter the lineup in his place.
1:01 p.m.: The Stars may have center Roope Hintz in their lineup for today’s matinee Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the Oilers after all. He’s a game-time decision after taking a slash to the left skate from Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse that prematurely ended his Game 2, head coach Pete DeBoer told reporters today (including Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News).
Hintz needed assistance getting off the ice after the slash from Nurse early in the third period, which initially yielded a major penalty but was reduced to a minor upon review. Nurse was also not subject to supplemental discipline for the play.
After a tough postseason showing in last year’s run to the WCF, Hintz has looked more like his usual self in the 2025 playoffs. He’s put up a 5-6–11 scoring line through 15 games, tied for second on the team in scoring with Thomas Harley, and is tied for the league lead in playoff power-play goals with three alongside teammate Mikael Granlund. Only Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston are seeing more ice time per game among Stars forwards than Hintz, who’s logging 17:47 on a nightly basis.
Most of Hintz’s scoring came in the first round against the Avalanche, though, namely a four-point effort in Game 6. He’s managed just one assist in his last five games dating back to Game 4 of the second round against the Jets. They’d prefer him healthy and effective to break a true deadlock so far in the West Final, which is tied 1-1 with the Oilers and Stars also tied in aggregate scoring at 6-6.
If Hintz can’t play, either Mavrik Bourque or Oskar Back will enter the lineup in his stead. Bourque hasn’t played since Game 4 of the first round, while Back has just three appearances in the second round and WCF combined – he did play in Game 1 before being replaced by Colin Blackwell in Friday’s loss.
Daytime hockey sucks!
@WilfPaiement9 — While we might disagree on that thought, I owe you a “Thanks” for reminding me to look in on NHL.com for the game.
For years, I’ve felt that when one player purposely injures another (Hintz, in this case), the guilty player should be forced to sit out as long as the injured one (max. of 5 games). This is brutally unfair to Dallas.
@tucsontoro1 — I’m on board with that, too. It *might* just cause some behavior change. The fly in the ointment? DoPeS and Parros. They seem to love to gravitate to backwards-wrong, all day long.
I disagree. Those slashes and crosschecks happen dozens of times a game. Unfortunate outcome, but suspensions should be based on the action, not the outcome imo. Two minute minor and nothing else.
If you slash someone in that area, you’re intent was to injure.
Blow out game and not one Dallas player did anything in retaliation to the Oilers. Contrast that with what Tkachuk did to Aho last night.